Brenda Putnam

Brenda Putnam was an American sculptor and author renowned for her elegant figurative works in bronze and marble, as well as her significant contributions to medallic art. A prominent figure in the early 20th-century art world, her sculptures ranged from intimate portrait busts and garden fountains to major public commissions and commemorative coins. Her career, which spanned over four decades, was marked by technical mastery and a classical sensibility that earned her numerous awards and a lasting place in collections like the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Early life and education

Born in Minneapolis to a family with deep artistic roots—her father was the noted librarian Herbert Putnam—she was immersed in a cultured environment from a young age. She began her formal art training at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., studying under sculptors like James Earle Fraser and Bessie Potter Vonnoh. To further her education, she moved to New York City and enrolled at the Art Students League of New York, where she worked under the tutelage of Hermon Atkins MacNeil and Solon Borglum. This rigorous academic foundation in Beaux-Arts principles profoundly shaped her approach to form and composition.

Career

Putnam established a successful studio in New York City and became an active exhibitor with major institutions like the National Academy of Design and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She gained early acclaim for her portrait busts of notable figures, including Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. Her expertise led to important civic commissions, such as the iconic bronze statue of Puck for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., and a monumental fountain for the Pan American Union building. She was also a prolific contributor to the Society of Medalists, creating several highly regarded art medals.

Major works

Among her most celebrated public works is the playful yet sophisticated statue of **Puck** (1932) at the Folger Shakespeare Library, which remains a beloved landmark. For the Pan American Union, she created the elaborate **"Fountain of the Americas"** (1933), featuring allegorical figures representing the arts. Her medallic art includes issues for the Society of Medalists, such as "Youth" (1939) and "Music" (1941), noted for their refined modeling. Other significant pieces include the bronze **"Portrait of a Boy"** (Johnnie Walker) held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the war memorial **"The Spirit of the Navy"** for Breaston, Massachusetts.

Awards and recognition

Putnam received significant honors throughout her career, beginning with the prestigious Widener Gold Medal from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1915. She was elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design in 1926, a testament to her standing among peers. In 1962, her contributions to architectural sculpture were recognized with the Henry Hering Medal from the National Sculpture Society. Her works were regularly selected for exhibition at venues like the Art Institute of Chicago and are included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Brooklyn Museum.

Personal life and legacy

Dedicated to her craft, Putnam also authored the influential technical manual *The Sculptor's Way: A Guide to Modelling and Sculpture* in 1939. In her later years, she retired to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where she remained active in artistic circles until her death. Her legacy endures through her public sculptures, which continue to grace institutions across the United States, and her medallic work, which is highly prized by collectors. She is remembered as a skilled artisan who successfully navigated the worlds of fine art and public commissions during a pivotal era for American sculpture.

Category:American sculptors Category:1890 births Category:1975 deaths Category:Artists from Minneapolis Category:Art Students League of New York alumni